Stringed musical instrument



(No Model.)

0. LENZNER, Sr. STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. No. 447,689. Patented Mar. 3,1891.

E 2 e j 1? I UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

OSCAR IJENZNER, SR., OF CASS OITY, MICHIGAN.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,689, dated March 3, 1891.

Application filed November 29, 1890, Serial No. 372,992. (No model) To cnZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR LENZNER, Sn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oass Oity,in the county of Tuscola and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stringed Musical Instrument; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to an improvement in stringed instruments, and has for its object to provide an instrument which may be played as a banjo, produce mellow tones similar to a guitar, and sustain such tones longer than either banjo or guitar.

The invention is a new instrument, which, inasmuch as it mainly resembles a banjo and produces tones similar to a guitar, I shall donominate a banjo-gnitarina.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a face view of my improved instrument. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the cross-bar or tail-piece with bridge and one of the strings in position, and Fig. i is a perspective view of the crossbar and bridge.

Referring by letter to said drawings, A indicates the body, which is of a peculiar construction and mainly resembles that of a guitar, having the usual sounding-hole a and a head similar to a Violoncello.

The neck B is of substantially the same form as a banjo-neck and has frets t0 correspond with a similar number of strings employed.

0 indicates the crossbar or tail-piece. This bar is similar to that used on a guitar, having a metallic bearing-piece D, which is secured to the forward vertical side of the cross-piece by screws or other suitable fastening devices. This metallic plate D, as will be better seen by reference to Fig. 3, has its upper longitudinal edge beveled, as shown, and for a purpose which will be presently explained. This plate I), I design to form from steel instead of brass, as heretofore, as by such use I have learned that sweeter music and more mellow tones are obtained.

E indicates a supplemental bridge, which is also formed of steel, and which I intend using when metalstrings are employed upon the instrument. The upper side of this rod or supplemental bridge is rounded on its upper side, as shown, and its underlongitudinal side is beveled, as shown at b, so as to snugly seat itself in the recess c, formed between the forward upper edge of the cross-bar and the adjacent edge of the main bridge or plate. The rear side of the body is approximately straight and slopes toward the neck or stock and extends well into the same, as shown at (Z.

The neck or stock B has a lateral offset 6, which extends from the bodyor head to about midway the length of said neck, and at the terminus isa key F for the attachment of one end of the string G, the opposite end of which is attached to the cross-bar or bridge in the usual manner.

A scale-board is arranged on the face of the neck or stock, and all the strings pass over the same.

In addition to the supplemental string G, I provide four other strings II, I, K, and L. The string II has the highest pitch, with the exception of the string G, the string I a lower pitch, the string K a still lower pitch, and the string L the lowest pitch.

This instrument will be found an excellent accompaniment with the human voice, the violin, guitar, piano, &c., and, playing soft mellow tones, will serve as a very desirable parlor instrument, which may be manufactured at about the cost of a guitar.

It will be seen that the bridge E is readily removable, and when metal strings are employed said bridge or rod may be quickly placed beneath the strings and adjusted in position. M

The keys for securing the outer ends of the main strings are similar to those of a violoncello.

Having described my invention, what- I claim is- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a banjo guitarina having a body approximately the shape of a guitar with its closed rear wall sloping toward the stock or neck and extending well into the same, the four strings, and also the supplemental string, the keys adj ustably securing the upper ends of the strings, the tail-piece for the attachment of the lower ends of said strings, the metallic bridge, and

the auxiliary removable rod or bridge, subpitch or bone than the highest main string, IO stantially as specified. substantially as specified.

2. A musical stringed instrument having In testimony whereofIaflixmy signature in its body portion approximating a guitar with presence of two Witnesses. 5 a Violoncello head, a neck corresponding to that of a banjo and having frets, a metallic OSCAR LENZNER, SR. bridge, a removable auxiliary steel bridge, Vitnesses:

four main strings arranged as described,and JAMES TENNANT,

a supplemental or auxiliary string of higher GEORGE TANNER. 

